1997 Medtrade to present new industry-specific events addressing cost containment, proper treatment and early detection.

ATLANTA--(BW HealthWire)--March 14, 1997--

Tailored programs within Medtrade to target issues of wound

care, managed care, test kit/diagnostics

equipment and automation

The 18th annual Medtrade Exposition and Conference will open its doors to a world of business opportunities for the healthcare industry on October 7-10, 1997, at its new venue -- the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Produced by SEMCO Productions, more than 90 percent of the exhibit space is already reserved, and attendees at this year's event can anticipate an expanded line-up of educational and exhibitor opportunities. Represented by the addition of such new programs as the Wound Care Symposium(SM) and Test Kit/Diagnostics Expo(SM), these new features are combined with the return of the fourth annual Managed Care Conference(SM) and the third annual Comtrade(SM). Once again, Medtrade will offer busy attendees a "one-stop" event for getting up-to-speed on the industry's most cost-effective solutions and current trends, while taking advantage of a tremendous buying forum.

"The growth and segmentation of the home healthcare market has allowed dealers and buyers to benefit from the availability and desirability of certain niche products and services," explains Mark Simmering, executive vice president and COO of SEMCO Productions. "Medtrade has set out to expand upon each of these areas by offering tailored seminars and exhibits geared toward the individual interests with an educational approach to cost-containment for buying and understanding the industry's best solutions."

Offering 250,000 products from 2,500 manufacturers, Medtrade '97 will attract tens of thousands of attendees from over 100 countries. Medtrade '96 alone generated over $600 million in business transactions during the four-day event. These numbers continue to grow each year, making this one of the largest medical product shows of its kind in the world.

Also concluded by a survey taken at last year's show, 55 percent of all medical tradeshow attendees choose to go to only one event during the year. Medtrade's comprehensive educational programs, featuring over 200 no-cost seminars, in addition to its enormous show floor, amount to an unprecedented 1,000,000 sq. ft. of total space, making this four-day a "must-see" for all healthcare decisionmakers. '97 Exhibit/Conference Highlights

"With special programs presented by the FDA, leading industry magazines, high-tech experts, and professional healthcare and medical associations, Medtrade's educational programs continue to provide the tailored choices important to a wide range of attendees," explains Louis Feuer, director of education for SEMCO Productions. Some of those highlights include:

Wound Care Symposium: Principles and Practices of Wound Management -- Developed as one of Medtrade's responses to the growing need to reduce healthcare costs, this two-day event, taking place October 8- 9, will address the growing demand for proper treatment and early detection of diabetic and other disease-related wounds. Facilitated by Dr. Tamara Fishman, Director of the Wound Care Institute, Inc., the symposium will offer attendees a look at state-of-the-art wound care products, combined with presentations by many of the country's noted authorities on wound management.

Test Kit/Diagnostics Expo -- Showcasing one of the fastest expanding segments of healthcare, this first-time section of the show floor will explore the processes and equipment involved in the early detection of diseases. With an increase in the amount of approved self- administering and EMT-equipped diagnostic/test kits for detection of HIV, cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, this expo within Medtrade offers attendees (physicians, pharmacists, hospital decisionmakers, long-term care professionals, etc.) a showcase of those products aimed at detecting early warning signs.

Managed Care Conference -- Returning for its fourth year, this informative conference will focus on those legal issues and cost- effective solutions that create profitable and successful relationships within the managed care arena. The one-day conference, taking place on Monday, October 6, will continue to set the standard for collaboration within the healthcare industry through diverse and progressive seminars and panel discussions presented by the industry's top speakers. Targeting providers, manufacturers, dealers, case managers, insurance personnel, or managed care executives and clinicians, this interactive forum provides the tools and knowledge needed to profit and thrive within a managed care environment.

Comtrade -- Providing a special showcase of products and services dedicated specifically for computers, communications and automation technology, this event will share the showfloor with Medtrade and put attendees in touch with those companies providing high-tech solutions affecting the healthcare industry. Addressing innovations in hospital networks, telemedicine, recordkeeping, the Internet and World Wide Web, security of patient-sensitive information and fibre optics, Comtrade has set the foundation for bringing together those elements that will reshape the future of healthcare.

About SEMCO Productions

SEMCO Productions is a privately held company with headquarters in Atlanta, GA. In addition to Medtrade, Comtrade(SM), the Managed Care Conference(SM), Wound Care Symposium(SM) and Test Kit/Diagnostics Expo(SM), they also produce the FutureShow(SM) and several consumer shows. For more information visit SEMCO Productions' Web-site at www.semcopro.com

CONTACT: PAN Communications, Inc.

Mark Nardone

508/474-0055

[e-mail]